(Dec 2016) See post for info about the macOS Sierra 10.12.2 update disabling loading external device Option ROM firmware, which prevents being able to boot (or even select an affected ext. drive as a startup disk), unless using a specific keypress workaround at boot time. Post also has a terminal command for "Early 2015 and older Macs" to restore function with needing special keypresses at every boot. (Apple refers to 'external devices', so wondering if this could also affect function of some other devices like Docks, etc., but not sure which if any use Option ROM firmware.)

Info and Tips on why 2012 and later mac mini, iMacs, (and notebooks) shut down after hours in sleep mode. Includes reason why (a 'feature' first added in OS X 10.8.2 supplemental update 2.0, for complaince with EU Energy standards) and includes some PMSET mod tips that have worked (at least for some users - ymmv). Originally written after what i saw with a new 2012 Mac mini, but the linked apple article notes specific late 2012 and later models affected. (The listed PMSET mods to avoid hibernate mode were used with a desktop mac then - not a notebook that needs to hibernate when its battery runs low.)

(Updated July 2015 with note from OS X 10.10.4/Cindori's Disk Sensei user. 10.10.4 also includes Apple's 'trimforce' (terminal command) for non-Apple shipped SSDs.) Mac OS X user reports and tips on enabling TRIM for SSDs that do not have it enabled by default. Includes Mac OS X reports on using Chameleon SSD Optimizer and OS X Trim Enabler apps, and also info on terminal commands to enable TRIM in OS X manually without using 3rd party apps. (Includes Sandforce SSD and Samsung SSD users, along with troubleshooting tips. I enabled TRIM manually on a Intel 520 Sandforce SSD in a mac Mini.)

Mentioned several times over the years (including a note on my 2nd SSD swap in a 2012 Mac Mini) but after seeing a recent post in Apple's forums from a 2009 Mac Mini (mini3,1) owner that his new Samsung 840 EVO SSD shows a 1.5Gbps link rate (despite having a SATA2/3Gbps interface), wanted to post a reminder on the Mac models that have this problem.

After getting another mail from an eSATA card owner that didn't notice data corruption until months later I posted a request for reports from readers with _reliable_ eSATA card/Port Multiplier cases in the Apri 4th, 2011 news page.

A past news page had some comments on special drive cables/thermal sensors in the new 2010 Mac Minis (and reminders on HD brand specific/temp sensor cables for late 09 iMacs). The takeaparts of the new 2010 Minis didn't include any info on that (but I suspect may be revised later). However a reader with a 2010 Mini server sent notes/pix on the cables/termal sensors during his dual SSD upgrade/drive swap.

A 2008 Mac Pro owner with four 2TB WD Green HDs sent a guide on Using WDidle3 to disable Head Parking w/WD Green Hard Drives. (Personally I would not have bought Green drives for my Mac Pro internal bays...)

A reader from the UK sent notes and pix of his (pre-2009) Hard Drive in a Mac Pro's Optical Drive Bay using a heatsinked and rubber isolated drive bracket vs the X-Swing that Oliver used in his previous articles on HDs in Mac Pro Optical drive bay here. (BTW - This article and others on the subject here (since 2007) used brackets with rubber isolation for reduced noise. And the bracket this reader used also had a heatsink feature but I doubt that really matters much (but they were relatively cheap). Of course if you don't care about any of that you can do this very cheaply with the all metal 5.25in bay adapter brackets, which used to come free in retail box 3.5in HDs in the past.)

Reader reports on these notebook HDs from MacBook/MacBook Pro (on 750GB and 640GB) and Mini owners (640GB only due to 9.5mm height limit). I posted the request for feedback after some questions from readers about these notebook HDs.

Another FYI/Warning to any one looking to swap out a 1TB 2.5in drive from one of these 'portable' USB cased models. Drive is SATA but is 15mm high (too tall). Said to also be true of the FreeAgent Go 880GB and 750GB models as well. (WD Scorpio 1TB and 750GB models are 12.5mm high - but the 1TB model is literally impossible to find as of Nov. 2009.)

Just a warning/FYI to any other reader thinking they could open up the 1TB WD Passport USB drive and use the HD inside a notebook (MacBook/MacBook Pro, etc.) - the drive inside is USB only. (Replies noted other capacity USB Passport drives were the same way - buyer beware.) I swapped it for a Toshiba USB 640GB Portable drive, which had a 9.5mm high SATA HD inside but I wonder if other mfrs will change that practice now.

Page on using SMART Utility for OS X (shareware) to check notebook drive "Load Cycle Counts" as well as notes on other drive SMART attributes/failing warnings, etc. (Page posted after the topic came up again recently on some drives frequently parking heads/cycling at a rate that would exceed the mfr's max cycle rating within a few months. Includes feedback from OS X users on their drive model readings with various models of Fujitsu, Hitachi, Samsung, Seagate and Toshiba 2.5in hard drives.)

Includes the Seagate Kbase Doc w/SN check on affected drives, firmware updates and a Guide to applying firmware updates with a Mac Pro. Also has reader reports on updates, drive failures, etc. in reply to a high number of infant failures (within a few months) reported for some models made during the last several months of 2008 in Seagate's forums. (Some dealer inventory may still include affected drives as of Jan 2009.)

Most still seem ok with using Silicon Image's 3132 drivers from mid-2010 (10.6.x release) with OS Lion (10.7.3) based on feedback in March 2012. Includes tips on reinstalling drivers after initial OS Install/upgrade and more.

Reader reports on swapping out the Mini-PCIe Airport card with a 2-port SATA card used for eSATA. Includes card info and some initial real-world benchmarks. Reports are from OS X 10.6.4 and 10.5.8 mini users.
(NOTE: 2009 and Later Minis DO NOT have a Mini-PCIe Airport card and can't do this mod. PPC Macs also do not have Mini-PCIe Airport cards.)

(Nov. 2009) After getting a report from a 2009 Mac Pro owner that his Pioneer BDR-205 drive was "disappearing" after appx 30min of time in OS X (but not windows), I suspected a drive sleep issue. The Nov. 25th, 2009 news page has replies from several other Mac Pro owners and an update from the original reader to report the problem (disabling allow drive sleep in Energy Saver seems to have helped, but see posts.)